Tarn of Nix (representing the refugees from the plane of Fallen Fortresses,
as well as new arrivals on the Ark, especially refugees)

Oskar Taverner (representing the old Ark refugees)

Hyan Luize, the priest of Pelor from Minaxis-Nochti,
has a small temple on top of the East Wing. She is the Ark's healer and
highest medical authority. She also ministers to the poorest of the
Ark's folk. Now that she is unwell, she delegates much to the second senior
priest, Chaza.

The Gatehouse Crew (led by Captain Brukal, mostly made up of warriors
and ex-Lakeland Army soldiers, is the military authority of the Ark, in
charge of defense and the local peace. They maintain a jail under the
gatehouse for both locals and outsiders that need to be incarcerated.

Brother Fiorian (the army priest) is the other notable figure among them.
On occasion, Fiorian is called upon for his knowledge of Akadazian common
law.

Elan leads the Greystone Guard and Militia, on the other side of
the Well (the portal in the middle of the Ark). His second in command there
is Scout-Corporal Anayra.

Sausau, (now deceased)
half-elven cook, was the head of life in the Keep, the
kitchen, and the food stores. He mediates any minor disputes between the
people living there, including the newer refugees from Nix.
He also keeps copies of written contracts, as well as acting as a witness
for verbal contracts, and people generally go to him when there is a question
about such matters. He was killed by the "cloudkill" spell. The Ark has
yet to replace him.

Skrags, (now deceased) human druid, acts as a spiritual/ecological advisor. She
doesn't concern herself much with social matters, but more with things
like food supplies, housing, energy needs, water, livestock, relations
with local wildlife/fey/etc.

Laws

The Ark currently has no written code of law, but the people go by
Akadazian common law (and expect the newcomers to abide by the law,
though they may give them some leeway at first.) The details were
passed down orally, often through the priests. Due to the precarious
existence of the Ark, the enforcement and punishments have changed,
sometimes becoming harsher. The Ark community as a whole compensates the
victim(s) of a crime if the criminal is unable to.

Serious crimes result in execution or outlawry (and on the Ark,
the two amount to the same, due to the Curse that prevents people from
leaving alive.) Serious crimes include murder, rape, and mind-altering
spells (considered morally equivalent to rape --- i.e., taking away
someone's will or volition), and creating undead. (OOC note: if someone
wants to make a necromancer character, you are free to do so, and get
the laws changed ICly.)

For less serious crimes (theft, breach of contract, manslaughter, assault,
slander, adultery, forgery, counterfeiting, etc.)
punishments run towards fines, indentured servitude, public shaming in the
stocks, flogging, and community service.

Magic is legal, unless used for criminal activities.
Detection and divination magic is considered lawful (though possibly
rude, depending on the circumstances.)
Any magic may be used against any target that may be lawfully killed
(e.g. monsters attacking the Ark, etc.)
Magic (including mind-affecting enchantments) may be used on prisoners
and war captives (as an alternative to other methods of interrogation),
usually under the supervision of the Gatehouse crew (and sometimes
Hyan Luize).

Slavery: Technically, true slavery is illegal. But people can legally be
indentured servants. On the Ark, the length of the contract has been limited
to seven years.
Indentured servants may own property (but not real estate), and may
marry, but they may only have children with their owner's permission. They
are permitted to buy out their own contracts (maximum three times what they
were bought for.) Children of 'slaves' are considered the property of their
mother. Most indentured servants are either captives from the surface world
or criminals whose crime was not quite serious enough to result in execution.
In practice, usually it is Captain Vera, Hyan Luize, or Maria who takes charge
of them.

Marriage:
since most of the original Ark refugees were commoners of the poorer
classes, monogamy has become the rule. "One person, one mate," as
the saying goes. Anything else is deemed unfair.
People pay neither bride-prices nor dowries, though an exchange of gifts
between the families is customary.
Divorce is recognized as a right, and can be initiated by either party.

Duels and feuds are discouraged as a rule. It was the custom in Lakeland
for the nobles to duel over matters of honor, but not the commoners.
Adventurers were also known and expected to take matters into their own hands
(as they were accustomed to being "in the field", far away from any
outside law enforcement.)

All the (sentient) residents of the Ark are considered full citizens, and
Ark law applies mainly to interactions between citizens.
Minors (under age 16 for humans) lack full rights, but may marry with their
guardians' permission at age 14. Outlanders (i.e. surface dwellers in
whatever plane the Ark visits) are given some allowance for ignorance
in Ark law when they visit the Ark. On the surface, Ark citizens are expected
to respect both local law and Ark law (but this is not as strictly enforced
as between citizens aboard the Ark). The Curse is seen by the citizens
as a mitigating circumstance in some cases (Ark citizens die if kept away
from the Ark too long.)